Means of protection against robbery in banks and the like



March 23 1926.

.H. E. SHEPARD MEANS OF PROTECTION AGAINST ROBBERY IN BANKS AND THE LTKE Filed Dec. 21

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UlTED- STATES HOMER E. SHEI'ARD, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

r r MEANS or PROTECTION AGAINST ROBBERY IN BANKS AND THELIKE.

Application filed December 21, 1920. Serial No. 432,368.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, HOMER E. SHEPARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California,'have invented a certain new and useful Means of Protection Against Robbery in Banks and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for protecting a bank or the like, its employees and patrons, against the loss of life and property at the occasion of an attempt of robbery.

An object of the invention is to provide means of the character described which will be concealed from view and capable of resisting a heavy attack, yet which at the same time will enable an armed operator to be stationed at close range and to command a clear View of the main banking corridor.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an armored cage in which an armed operator may be concealed and secretly signalled to by the employees stationed around the bank corridor.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claim.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section of what may be termed a banking corridor shown in connection with the protective means of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the armored cage.

The protective means of my invention as here embodied is shown and described in connection with a bank and more particularly the main banking corridor and in general terms comprises an armored cage which is concealed in a chamber disposed at the rear of the closed end of the corridor. The cage is provided with a loop-hole through which an armed operator stationed in the cage during the day may command a full view of the corridor and openings, and if necessary fire arms through it. Means are also provided for secretly signalling the operator in the cage from the variousbanking windows facing the corridor.

A detailed description of the illustrated form of the invention follows:

As hereinbefore mentioned the protective means of my invention may be advantageously incorporated with the main corridor of a bank or other place where large sums of money and valuables are continuously handled, and where consequently danger of an attempt at robbery may exist at any time. As here shown the corridor 2 with the necessary entrances and exits 3, is provided with one or more banking windows (3 which are usually located at one of the sides 4 of the corridor. Arranged back of the usually closed end wall 5 of the corridor is a chamber 7 within which is disposed an armored cage 8 whose front wall 9 abuts against or preferably projects into the end wall 5 of the corridor. The front wall of the cage is preferably semi-circular in horizontal section and is provided with a small aperture or loop-hole 12 through which the operator stationed within the cage may command a view of the corridor and the windows therein. Owing to the small distance between the far sides 13 and 14 of the walls 5 and 9 respectivley, a loop-hole of minimum size will suffice to enable the operator to obtain a clear View of the corridor. In the present form of the invention the loop-hole 12 is of a shape to permit a double-barrel gun to extend therethrough, however the hole may be of any desirable outline. The cage is preferably formed with a seat 16 for the convenience of the operator and is provided with a shalf 17 below the loop-hole, upon which the fire-arms may rest ready for instant use. The walls of the cage are preferably made of heavy steel plating and practically completely enclose the interior thereof, while the door 17 leading therein is made of a material similar to the walls and preferably locks from the inside. It will thus be seen that the cage is rendered capable of withstanding a heavy attack from the outside without danger to the operator therein.

The design of the side 13 of the end wall of the corridor preferably conforms to that of the side walls, so that with the exception of the small inobstrusive loop-hole which extends through the end wall, there is nothing to indicate that an armored cage is concealed behind it.

Means are also provided for enabling the employs stationed at the banking windows to secretly signal the operator within the cage should circumstances warrant such action. As here shown an electric circuit 20 is provided between the windows and the cage, which circuit includes a switch 21 at eachiwindow which may be readily closed by the foot of the employee so that the buzzer 22 in the cage may be sounded.

I claim:

The combination with a corridor having an opening at the outer side of the corridor at one side and provided with a closed end, of an armored cage disposed'at said end and having an aperture communicating with the interior of said corridor and through which a missile may bedischarged, and signalling means affording communication between said corridor opening and said cage.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my day ofDecember, 1920.

HOMER E. Sumatran;

hand at Oakland, California this 7th 

